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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2010

Governor Quinn Announce ENERGY STAR® Rebate Program Generates $25 Million in Sales of 27,000 Appliances Thousands of Customers Flocked to Stores to Cash in on Savings for Energy Efficient Appliances

CHICAGO – September 24, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn announced that today’s ENERGY STAR appliance rebate program generated more than $25 million in sales of more than 27,000 energy efficient appliances statewide. State officials estimate that between 8 a.m. and when the rebates were concluded at 10:30 a.m., consumers received an estimated $3.6 million in rebates.

“The second round of the rebate program was a resounding success, just like the first round. Thousands of consumers across Illinois were able to save money on the cost of new, energy efficient appliances,” said Governor Quinn. “The program has been an economic boost for retailers, and our hats are off to those who participated in this program.”

Today’s $3.6 million in rebate money is in addition to $9.4 million in rebates offered earlier in the year through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the first round of the program. The program is designed to boost retail sales of energy efficient appliances, while at the same time reducing consumers’ energy bills and long-term energy consumption.

“All available funding was exhausted within two-and-a-half hours,” said DCEO Director Warren Ribley. “Our goal was to ensure as many people as possible were able to take advantage of these savings – and we achieved our goal. Today’s sales provided another strong boost to Illinois retailers.”

“Never in the history of Illinois have sales been so brisk,” said David Vite, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, which teamed up with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance to manage the rebate program on behalf of DCEO. “This makes Black Friday look like a slow day.”

Vite said that some retailers in the program are continuing to offer their own promotions and discounts throughout the rest of the day and the weekend. For a list of the more than 450 retailers who participated in the program, go to: IllinoisEnergy.org/appliances.

The first round generated more than $75 million in sales and 1.3 trillion BTUs in lifetime energy savings - the equivalent of taking 1,712 passenger vehicles off the road. In today’s final phase, consumers upgrading to ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dishwashers received a 15 percent point-of-sale rebate (up to $250 per appliance) at participating stores. The rebates were intended for consumers replacing an old unit; customers were required to certify that they are purchasing a replacement appliance at the time of purchase.